Reconfigurable beverage crate

ABSTRACT

A beverage crate includes a base and a plurality of walls extending upward from the base. The base together with the plurality of walls define a container interior for receiving beverage containers. By reconfiguring the crate, the storage volume of the container interior is selectively adjustable to accommodate different size beverage containers. Thus, the same crate could be used for different size beverage containers.

BACKGROUND

Beverage crates are typically designed for a particular beveragecontainer (e.g. bottle or can) size and configuration. The interiorvolume defined by the base and walls of the crate is constant, whetherthe beverage crate is a nestable crate, collapsible crate, or astackable full-depth crate. Sometimes, a beverage crate can accommodatea small number of beverage container variations, e.g. a taller bottleand a shorter bottle both having the same body diameter.

SUMMARY

A beverage crate includes a base and a plurality of walls extendingupward from the base. The base together with the plurality of wallsdefine a container interior for receiving beverage containers. Byreconfiguring the crate, the storage volume of the container interior isselectively adjustable to accommodate different size beveragecontainers.

Thus, the same crate could be used for different size beveragecontainers. The crate could be used to ship a first size bottle to astore, then returned to the warehouse or distribution center,reconfigured and loaded with a second size bottle.

In some embodiments disclosed herein, the beverage crate includes atleast one spacer movable between a stowed position in which the storagevolume of the container interior is larger and a deployed position inwhich the storage volume of the container interior is smaller.

Some of the embodiments disclosed herein are collapsible crates and someare disclosed as nestable crates; however, it should be noted that themovable spacers disclosed in any of these embodiments could beimplemented in either collapsible crates, nestable crates, or stackablefull-depth crates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the beverage crate according to a firstembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the beverage crate of FIG. 1 with thespacers pivoted downward in the deployed position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an interior corner of the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the interior corner, showing the spacersof the crate of FIG. 1 in the deployed position.

FIG. 5 shows the crate of FIG. 1 in a collapsed position.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the collapsed crate of FIG. 5 .

FIG. 7 is a side view of the collapsed crate of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 8 is an end view of the collapsed crate of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a plurality of the collapsed cratesof FIG. 1 stacked on one another.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the stack of crates of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 11 is an end view of the stack of collapsed crates of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 12 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 1 with the spacers in thestowed position.

FIG. 13 is a side view respective of the crate of FIG. 12 .

FIG. 14 is an end view respective of the crate of FIG. 12 .

FIG. 15 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 1 loaded with bottles whilethe spacers are in the stowed position.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the crate and bottles of FIG. 15 .

FIG. 17 is an end view of the crate and bottles of FIG. 15 .

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the crate and bottles of FIG. 15 .

FIG. 19 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 1 with the spacers in thedeployed position.

FIG. 20 is a side view of the crate of FIG. 19 .

FIG. 21 is an end view of the crate of FIG. 19 .

FIG. 22 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 1 with the spacers in thedeployed position and loaded with smaller bottles.

FIG. 23 is a side view of the crate and bottles of FIG. 22 .

FIG. 24 is an end view of the crate and bottles of FIG. 22 .

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the crate and bottles of FIG. 22 .

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a beverage crate according to a secondembodiment with the spacers in a stowed position.

FIG. 27 shows the beverage crate of FIG. 26 with the spacers in adeployed position.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a beverage crate according to a thirdembodiment.

FIG. 29 shows the beverage crate of FIG. 28 in a second configurationwith a reduced storage volume compared to that of FIG. 28 .

FIG. 30 is a collapsed view of the crate of FIG. 28 .

FIG. 31 is an end view of the collapsed crate of FIG. 30 .

FIG. 32 is a side view of the collapsed crate of FIG. 30 .

FIGS. 33, 34, and 35 show perspective, end and side views of a pluralityof the collapsed crates of FIG. 30 stacked on one another.

FIGS. 36-40 schematically show the sequence of reconfiguring of thecrate from the configuration of FIG. 29 to the configuration of FIG. 30(or vice versa).

FIGS. 41-43 show a plurality of smaller bottles that are receivedreasonably snugly within the crate.

FIGS. 44-46 show perspective, side and end views of the crate with fewerbottles received therein than in FIG. 41 .

FIG. 47 is a perspective view of the crate and bottles of FIG. 41 .

FIG. 48 is a perspective view of the crate and bottles of FIG. 44 .

FIG. 49 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 28 .

FIG. 50 is a side view of the crate of FIG. 49 .

FIG. 51 is an end view of the crate of FIG. 49 .

FIG. 52 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 29 with the spacer railsfacing interior of the crate.

FIG. 53 is a side view of the crate of FIG. 52 .

FIG. 54 is an end view of the crate of FIG. 52 .

FIG. 55 is a perspective view of a crate according to a fourthembodiment.

FIG. 56 shows the crate of FIG. 55 with the spacers pivoted upward to adeployed position.

FIG. 57 shows the crate of FIG. 55 in a collapsed position.

FIG. 58 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 57 .

FIG. 59 is a side view of the collapsed crate of FIG. 58 .

FIG. 60 is an end view of the collapsed crate of FIG. 58 .

FIG. 61 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 55 showing the spacers in thestowed position in the recesses in the base.

FIG. 62 is a side view of the crate of FIG. 61 .

FIG. 63 is an end view of the crate of FIG. 61 .

FIG. 64 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 56 with the spacers in thedeployed position against the end walls and side walls.

FIG. 65 is a side view of the crate of FIG. 64 .

FIG. 66 is an end view of the crate of FIG. 64 .

FIG. 67 is a perspective view of a crate according to a fifth embodimentwith the spacers in the stowed or retracted position.

FIG. 68 shows the crate of FIG. 67 with the spacers pivoted downward toa deployed position.

FIG. 69 shows the crate of FIG. 67 with the side walls and end wallscollapsed onto the base.

FIG. 70 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 69 in the collapsed position.

FIG. 71 is a side view of the collapsed crate of FIG. 69 .

FIG. 72 is an end view of the collapsed crate of FIG. 69 .

FIG. 73 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 67 with the spacers in theretracted position.

FIG. 74 is a side view of the crate of FIG. 73 .

FIG. 75 is an end view of the crate of FIG. 73 .

FIG. 76 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 68 with the spacers in thedeployed position.

FIG. 77 is a side view of the crate of FIG. 76 .

FIG. 78 is an end view of the crate of FIG. 76 .

FIG. 79 shows an interior corner of a collapsible crate according to asixth embodiment with the spacers in the deployed position.

FIG. 80 shows the interior corner of the crate of FIG. 79 with thespacers pivoted downward to a stowed or retracted position.

FIG. 81 shows the interior corner of the crate of FIG. 79 in thecollapsed position.

FIG. 82 shows an exterior view of the corner of the crate of FIG. 81 .

FIG. 83 shows the interior corner of the crate of FIG. 79 with thespacers deployed and with a plurality of beverage containers therein.

FIG. 84 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 83 .

FIG. 85 shows a collapsible crate according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 86 shows the crate of FIG. 85 with the spacers pivoted downward.

FIG. 87 shows the crate of FIG. 85 in a collapsed position.

FIG. 88 shows the crate of FIG. 85 with the spacers in the retractedposition and larger beverage containers stored therein.

FIG. 89 shows the crate of FIG. 85 with the spacers in the deployedposition and smaller beverage containers stored therein.

FIG. 90 is an exterior view of the crate and beverage containers of FIG.88 with the spacers in the retracted position.

FIG. 91 is an exterior view of the crate and beverage containers of FIG.89 with the spacers in the deployed position.

FIG. 92 shows an optional ramp that could be added to the base of someembodiments to automatically retract the spacer when the wall iscollapsed onto the base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-25 show a bottle crate 10 according to a first embodiment. Inthis embodiment, the crate 10 is a collapsible crate 10. The crate 10includes a base 12, sidewalls 14 extending upward from side edges of thebase 12, and end walls 16 extending upward from end edges of the base12. The sidewalls 14 and end walls 16 are hingeably connected to thebase 12, as is known, and are selectively latched to one another, as isalso well-known.

A spacer 18 is pivotably connected to each end wall 16. The spacer 18 isgenerally U-shaped, having short arms pivotably connected to the endwalls 16 and extending upward to connect to an elongated cross barextending across most of the end wall 16. In the example shown, thespacer 18 is pivotably connected adjacent the upper end of each end wall16. The cross bar of the spacer 18 can be accessed via a pair of notches22 formed in the upper edge of each end wall 16.

A side spacer 20 is pivotably mounted to each side wall 14 in a similarmanner. The side spacers are accessible via notches 24 formed in upperedges of the side walls 14. The spacers 18, 20 are shown in FIG. 1 inthe stowed or retracted position where they are received within recessesformed in the end wall 16 and side walls 14, respectively, and do notproject into the interior of the crate 10.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the spacers 18, 20 can be pivoted downward totheir deployed position, as shown. In this position, the spacers 18, 20project inward from the end walls 16 and side walls 14, respectivelyinto the interior of the crate 10. The spacers 18 project toward oneanother. The spacers 20 project toward one another. The spacers 18, 20project inward over the base 12. As compared to the stowed position ofFIG. 1 , in the deployed position, the spacers 18, 20 reduce theavailable storage volume of the interior of the crate 10 available toreceive beverage containers.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an interior corner of the crate 10 of FIG.1 , showing the spacers 18 and 20 in the stowed position. FIG. 4 is anenlarged view of the interior corner, showing the spacers 18, 20 in thedeployed position.

FIG. 5 shows the crate 10 in a collapsed position. In the collapsedposition, the end walls 16 are pivoted down onto the base 12. Thesidewalls 14 are pivoted down onto the end walls 16 and out to the base12. As is known, in the collapsed position, the empty crate 10 can beshipped and stored more efficiently.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the collapsed crate 10 of FIG. 5 . FIG. 7 is aside view of the collapsed crate 10. FIG. 8 is an end view of thecollapsed crate 10. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a plurality ofthe collapsed crates 10 stacked on one another. FIG. 10 is a side viewof the stack of crates 10 of FIG. 9 . FIG. 11 is an end view of thestack of collapsed crates 10 of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 12 is a top view of the crate 10 with the spacers 18, 20 in thestowed position. FIGS. 13 and 14 are side and end views, respectively ofthe crate 10 of FIG. 12 .

FIG. 15 is a top view of the crate 10 loaded with bottles 8 while thespacers 18 are in the stowed position. The diameter of the bodies of thebottles 8 is such that the bottles 8 fit reasonably snugly between thesidewalls 14 and between the end walls 16. FIGS. 16 and 17 are sideviews and end views of the crate 10 and bottles 8 of FIG. 15 ,respectively.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the crate 10 and bottles 8 of FIG. 15 .Again, the spacers 18, 20 are in the stowed position. The bottles 8 arereceived in the interior of the crate 10 in a 4×6 array.

FIG. 19 is a top view of the crate 10 with the spacers 18, 20 in thedeployed position. As shown, the spacers 18, 20 project into theinterior of the crate 10 and reduce the interior dimensions of the crate10. FIGS. 20 and 21 are side and end views, respectively of the crate 10of FIG. 19 .

FIG. 22 is a top view of the crate 10 with the spacers 18, 20 in thedeployed position and loaded with smaller bottles 9 (i.e. the bodies ofthe bottles 9 have a smaller diameter). As shown, the bottles 9 fitreasonably snugly between the spacers 18 and between the spacers 20. Thesmaller bottles 9 are received in the crate 10 interior in a 4×6 array.

The spacers 18, 20 permit the crate 10 to accommodate bottles 8, 9 ofdifferent sizes (i.e. body diameters). Alternatively, the deployedspacers 18, 20 could reconfigure the crate 10 to accommodate a lessernumber of larger bottles than the retracted spacers 18, 20 (e.g. largerdiameter bottles in a 3×5 array).

FIGS. 23 and 24 are side and end views of the crate 10 and bottles 9 ofFIG. 22 . FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the crate 10 and bottles 9 ofFIG. 22 .

FIGS. 26-27 show a crate 110 according to a second embodiment. The crate110 includes a base 112 having side walls 114 extending upward from sideedges of the base 112 and end walls 116 extending upward from end edgesof the base 112. In this embodiment, a plurality of laterally extendingspacers 118 (two spaced-apart rows with two spacers 118 in each row) arestowed in recesses formed in the base 112 and extend generally from oneside wall 114 to the other side wall 114. Similarly, longitudinallyextending spacers 120 are stored in recessed in the base 112 and extendgenerally from one end wall 116 to the other end wall 116 (again, tworows of two spacers 120 in each row). The spacers 118, 120 are connectedto the base 112 by hinges.

FIG. 27 shows the crate 110 with the spacers 118, 120 in the deployedposition. In each case, each adjacent pair of spacers 118 are pivotedtoward one another upward out of the recess in the base 112 until theyare generally back to back. Similarly, the longitudinally extendingspacers 120 are also pivoted upward in adjacent pairs to be back toback. In this manner, larger bottles could be stored in the crate 110when the spacers 118, 120 are in the stowed position of FIG. 26 (or alarger number of smaller bottles). When the spacers 118, 120 are pivotedto the deployed position of FIG. 27 , bottles are received between thespacers 120 and one of the side walls 114 and between the spacers 118and one of the end walls 116. In the deployed position of FIG. 27 ,smaller bottles can be accommodated in the crate 110 (or a lesser numberof larger bottles).

FIGS. 26 and 27 show a nestable crate, in which the base 112 side walls114 and end walls 116 are integrally molded as a single piece ofplastic, and when empty, portions of the side walls 114 and end walls 16could be nested in an identical crate 110 stacked thereon. It should benoted that the spacers 118, 120 deployed from and stowed in the base 112could also be implemented in a collapsible crate.

FIGS. 28-54 show a collapsible crate 210 according to a thirdembodiment. Referring to FIG. 28 , the crate 210 includes a base 212having side walls 214 pivotably connected to side edges of the base 212by hinges and having end walls 216 pivotably connected to end edges ofthe base 212 by hinges. Each side wall 214 includes a first surface 224,which in the configuration of FIG. 28 , is an interior surface 224. Eachside wall 214 also includes a second surface 226, which in theconfiguration of FIG. 28 is an exterior surface 226. The second surface226 of each side wall 214 includes a plurality (in this case two) spacerrails 228, upper and lower spacer rails 228. Each end wall 216 has afirst surface 230, which in the configuration of FIG. 28 is an interiorsurface 230. Each end wall 216 further includes a second surface 232,which in the configuration of FIG. 28 is an exterior surface 232.

The crate 210 can be reconfigured as shown in FIG. 29 so that the secondsurface 226 of each side wall 214 faces interior of the crate 210 andthe first surface 224 faces exterior of the crate 210 and such that thesecond surface 232 of each end wall 216 faces interior of the crate,while the first surface 230 of each end wall 216 faces exterior of thecrate 210. In this configuration, the spacer rails 228 of the side walls214 project inward of the crate 210, occupying interior space of thecrate 210. In this configuration the spacer rails 228 project over thebase 212. In the configuration of FIG. 29 , the second surfaces 226 arecloser to one another than were the first surfaces 224 in FIG. 28 . Thisreduces the storage volume of the interior of the crate 210 (for smallerbottles or for fewer larger bottles). Optionally, the end walls 216could also provide different interior dimensions between the twoconfigurations in a similar manner (i.e. with their own spacer rails).

As shown in FIG. 30 , the crate is collapsible to a flat, shipping andstorage configuration with the side walls 214 pivoted outward to begenerally parallel to the base 212 and the end walls 216 to be pivotedoutward generally parallel to the base 212.

FIG. 31 is an end view of the collapsed crate 210 of FIG. 30 . FIG. 32is a side view of the collapsed crate 210 of FIG. 30 . FIGS. 33, 34 and35 show a plurality of the collapsed crates 210 stacked on one another.

FIGS. 36-40 schematically show the sequence of reconfiguring the crate210 from the configuration of FIG. 29 to the configuration of FIG. 30(or vice versa). As shown, the side walls 214 and end walls 216 areunlatched and then pivoted outward approximately 180 degrees until theyare reconfigured with the interior and exterior surfaces of the walls214, 216 switched. As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30 , this ability toreconfigure the crate 210 can be used to move the spacer rails 228 froman exterior of the crate to an interior of the crate to reduce thedimension of the interior of the crate 210 to accommodate different sizeand/or a different number of bottles.

For examples, as shown in FIG. 41-43 , a plurality of smaller bottles 9are received reasonably snugly within the crate 210, with the spacerrails 228 facing the exterior of the crate 210.

FIGS. 44-46 a lesser number of larger bottles 8 are received in thecrate 210 in the configuration in which the spacer rails 228 are facinginterior of the crate 210. In this manner both size bottles 8, 9 can beaccommodated reasonably snugly within the same crate 210 in differentconfigurations.

FIG. 47 is a perspective view of the crate 210 and bottles 9 of FIG. 41.

FIG. 48 is a perspective view of the crate 210 and bottles 8 of FIG. 44.

FIG. 49 is a top view of the crate 210 configured with the spacer rails228 facing exterior of the crate 210. FIGS. 50 and 51 are side and endviews of the crate of FIG. 49 .

FIG. 52 is a top view of the crate 210 with the spacer rails 228 facinginterior of the crate 210. FIGS. 53 and 54 are side and end views,respectively, of the crate 210 of FIG. 52 .

FIGS. 55-66 show a collapsible beverage crate 310 according to a fourthembodiment. The crate 310 includes a base 312 having side walls 314pivotably connected to side edges and end walls 316 pivotably connectedto end edges. End spacers 318 are pivotably connected adjacent loweredges of the end walls 316 and can be pivoted down to their stowedposition in a recess 319 in the base 312 as shown in FIG. 55 . Sidespacers 320 are pivotably connected adjacent lower ends of the sidewalls 314 and can be stowed in recesses 321 formed in the base 312, asshown. Interior surfaces of the end walls 316 include a plurality ofrecesses 330 for partially receiving bottles. Likewise, the side walls314 each include a plurality of recesses 332 for partially receivingbottles. The recesses 330, 332 are generally portions of a cylinder witha vertical axis (perpendicular to the base 312).

Referring to FIG. 56 , the spacers 318, 320 can be pivoted upward to adeployed position as shown in FIG. 56 . In the deployed position, theend spacers 318 are positioned in front of at least some of the recesses330 formed on the interior surface of the end walls 316. The spacers 320are also positioned in front of the recesses 332 on the side walls 314.In this matter, the effective interior dimensions of the crate 310 arereduced to the extent that the spacers 318 block the recesses 330 and tothe extent that the spacers 320 block the recesses 332, plus thethickness of the spacers 318, 320.

As shown in FIG. 57 , the end walls 316 can be collapsed onto the base312 and the side walls 314 can be collapsed onto the end walls 316 andbase 312. FIG. 58 is a top view of the crate 310 in the collapsedposition. FIGS. 59 and 60 are side and end view of the collapsed crate310.

FIG. 61 is a top view of the crate 310 showing the spacers 318, 320 inthe stowed position in the recesses 319, 321, respectively in the base312. As shown, the recesses 330, 332 are exposed to the interior of thecrate 310. FIGS. 62 and 63 are side and end views of the crate 310 ofFIG. 61 .

FIG. 64 shows the crate 310 with the spacers 318, 320 in the deployedposition against the end walls 316 and side walls 314, respectively. Inthis position, the spacers 318, 320, block the recesses 330, 332,respectively, thereby reducing the effective interior dimensions of thecrate 310. FIGS. 65 and 66 are side and end views of 310 of FIG. 64 .

FIGS. 67-78 show a collapsible beverage crate 410 according to a fifthembodiment. The crate 410 includes abase 412 having side walls 414 andend walls 416. Again the end walls 416 include recesses 430 and the sidewalls 414 include recesses 432 as before. In this embodiment, the endwalls 416 include one or more end spacers 418 which are pivotablyconnected at upper ends of the end walls 416 adjacent the recesses 430.In the stowed/retracted position, the end spacers 418 extend upward fromhinges connecting them to the end walls 416. Similarly, side spacers 420are pivotably connected adjacent upper edges of the side walls 414adjacent the recesses 432. In the stowed/retracted position, the sidespacers 420 extend upward from hinges connecting them to the side walls414.

In FIG. 67 , the spacers 418, 420 are shown in the stowed or retractedposition. In FIG. 68 , the spacers 418, 420 are pivoted downward ninetydegrees such that they project into the interior space of the crate 410.The spacers 418, 420 block or effectively block the recesses 430, 432,respectively, effectively reducing the interior dimensions of the crate410 to the extent they block the recesses 430, 432 and to the extentthey further project into the interior of the crate 410.

FIG. 69 shows the crate 410 in the collapsed position, with the sidewalls 414 and end walls 416 collapsed onto the base 412. FIGS. 70, 71and 72 are top side and end views of the collapsed crate of FIG. 69 .

FIG. 73 is a top view of the crate 410 with the spacers 418, 420 in theretracted position, exposing the recesses 430, 432 to the interior ofthe crate. FIG. 74 are side and end views of the crate 410 of FIG. 73 .

FIG. 76 is a top view of the crate 410 with the spacers 418, 420 in thedeployed position, such that they project into the interior of the crate410 and block the recesses 430, 432 (FIG. 70 ). FIGS. 77 and 78 are sideand end views of the crate 410 of FIG. 76 .

FIGS. 79-84 show a collapsible crate 510 according to a sixth embodiment(a quarter of the crate 510 is shown, the rest would be symmetric). Inthis embodiment, the end spacers 518 and side spacers 520 are pivotablyconnected adjacent lower ends of the end walls 516 and side walls 514,respectively. Recesses 536 are formed in the end wall 516 for receivingthe side spacers 520.

As shown in FIG. 80 , the spacers 518, 520 can be pivoted downward ontothe base 512. A recess 538 is formed in the end wall for receiving theend spacer 518.

FIG. 81 shows the crate 510 in the collapsed position. The side spacer520 is received in the recesses 536 of the end wall 516 and the endspacer 518 is received in the recess 538 of the end wall 516.

FIG. 82 is an exterior view of the crate 510 of FIG. 81 . As shown inFIG. 83 , when deployed, the spacers 518, 520 block the recesses 530,532 in the end walls 516 and side walls 514, respectively, therebyeffectively reducing the interior dimensions of the crate 510. FIG. 84is a top view of the crate 510 of FIG. 83 .

FIGS. 85-91 show a collapsible crate 610 according to a seventhembodiment. Again, the end walls 616 and side walls 614 include recesses630, 632, respectively. End spacers 618 are pivotably connected adjacentupper edges of the end walls 616 and include recesses 631 that alignwith the recesses 630 in the end walls 616 when the spacers 618 is inthe retracted position, as shown. Likewise, the side spacers 620 includerecesses 633 that align with the recesses 632 and side walls 614 whenthe spacer 620 is in the retracted position, as shown in FIG. 85 . Inthe stowed/retracted position shown in FIG. 85 , the spacers 618, 620extend upward from pivotable connections to upper ends of the end walls616 and side walls 614, respectively.

FIG. 86 shows the spacers 618, 620 pivoted downward approximately ninetydegrees such that they project into the interior of the crate 610 andblock the recesses 630, 632, thereby reducing the effective dimensionsof the crate 610.

FIG. 87 shows the crate 610 in the collapsed position.

FIG. 88 shows the crate 610 with the spacers 618, 620 in the retractedposition and bottles 8 partially received in the recesses 632, 630 (andrecesses 631, 633).

FIG. 89 shows the crate 610 with the spacers 618, 620 in the deployedposition where they project into the interior of the crate and block therecesses 630, 632, thereby reducing the interior dimensions of thecrate, such that they can reasonably snugly fit the smaller bottles 9.

FIG. 90 is an exterior view of the crate 610 with the spacers 618, 620in the retracted position.

FIG. 91 is an exterior view of the crate 610 with the spacers 618, 620in the deployed position.

As shown in FIG. 92 , a ramp feature 740 can be formed on the base 712to automatically move a spacer 718 from the deployed position to theretracted position as the wall 716 is pivoted downward onto the base 712to the collapsed position. The ramp feature could be added to some ofthe collapsible crate embodiments disclosed above.

All of the embodiments described above provide crates that can bereconfigured to accommodate different sizes and/or different numbers ofbottles. In all of the embodiments, except the third embodiment, theexternal footprint of the crate would not change between the twoconfigurations. All of the features described above for altering theinterior dimensions of the crate could be provided in a collapsiblecrate or in a low-depth nestable crate, or even a full-depth crate,again with the exception of the third embodiment. Other products besidesbeverage containers could be accommodated by any of the disclosedembodiments. Generally, it is contemplated that all of the disclosedcomponents are formed of injection molded plastic; however, othermaterials and/or forming methods could be used for some of thecomponents.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes andjurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are consideredto represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it shouldbe noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than asspecifically illustrated and described without departing from its spiritor scope. Alphanumeric labels on method steps in the claims are for easeof reference in other steps or other claims and unless otherwiseexplicitly indicated in the claim do not signify a required sequence.

What is claimed is:
 1. A beverage crate comprising: a base; and aplurality of walls extending from the base, the base together with theplurality of walls defining a container interior for receiving beveragecontainers, wherein a storage volume of the container interior isselectively adjustable to accommodate different size beveragecontainers.
 2. The beverage crate of claim 1 further including at leastone spacer movable between a stowed position in which the storage volumeof the container interior is larger and a deployed position in which thestorage volume of the container interior is smaller.
 3. The beveragecrate of claim 2 wherein the at least one spacer is pivotably secured toone of the plurality of walls.
 4. The beverage crate of claim 3 whereinthe at least one spacer is pivotable into a recess in the one of theplurality of walls to the stowed position.
 5. The beverage crate ofclaim 4 further including a plurality of beverage containers received inthe storage volume and contacting the at least one spacer in thedeployed position.
 6. The beverage crate of claim 2 wherein theplurality of walls are pivotably connected to the base and movablebetween an upright position and a collapsed position on the base.
 7. Thebeverage crate of claim 2 further including at least one spacer movableinto a recess in the base in the stowed position and movable out of therecess in the base in the deployed position.
 8. The beverage crate ofclaim 1 wherein the plurality of walls are hingeably connected to thebase, and wherein the plurality of walls are movable between a firstposition in which the plurality of walls extend in a first directionperpendicular to the base and a second position in which the pluralityof walls extend in a second direction, opposite the first direction,perpendicular to the base, wherein the plurality of walls in the firstposition provide a first storage volume, and wherein the plurality ofwalls in the second position provide a second storage volume, whereinthe first storage volume is larger than the second storage volume. 9.The beverage crate of claim 2 wherein one of the plurality of wallsincludes a recess formed on an interior surface thereof for partiallyreceiving a beverage container, wherein the beverage crate furtherincludes a spacer movable between a stowed position in which the recessis accessible from the container interior to increase the storage volumeand a deployed position in which the recess is blocked from thecontainer interior to reduce the storage volume.
 10. The beverage crateof claim 9 wherein the plurality of walls are pivotably connected to thebase and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position onthe base.
 11. The beverage crate of claim 9 further including aplurality of beverage containers received in the storage volume andcontacting the at least one spacer in the deployed position.
 12. Thebeverage crate of claim 9 wherein the spacer is pivotable between thestowed position and the deployed position.
 13. The beverage crate ofclaim 12 wherein the spacer is receivable in a recess in the base in thestowed position.
 14. The beverage crate of claim 13 wherein theplurality of walls are pivotably connected to the base and movablebetween an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. 15.The beverage crate of claim 9 wherein the spacer is pivotably connectedto the one of the plurality of walls or to the base.
 16. The beveragecrate of claim 3 wherein the at least one spacer includes a plurality ofrecesses that align with recesses on an interior surface of the one ofthe plurality of walls when the at least one spacer is in the stowedposition.
 17. The beverage crate of claim 16 further including aplurality of beverage containers received in the storage volume andcontacting the at least one spacer in the deployed position.
 18. Thebeverage crate of claim 17 wherein the plurality of walls are pivotablyconnected to the base and movable between an upright position and acollapsed position on the base.
 19. A method for using crate including:a) configuring the crate in a first configuration having a firstinterior storage volume defined between a pair of side walls and a pairof end walls extending upward from a base; b) after said step a),placing a first number of first beverage containers on the base of thecrate, abutting the pair of side walls and the pair of end walls; c)after said step b), reconfiguring the crate to a second configurationhaving a second interior storage volume defined between the pair of sidewalls and the pair of end walls, wherein the second interior storagevolume is less than the first interior storage volume; and d) after saidstep c), placing a second number of second beverage containers in thecrate, wherein the second number is less than the first number or thesecond beverage containers are smaller than the first beveragecontainers.